Healthier living ahead

Published 11:32 am, Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Nancy Martinez, Ashley Gonzales and Juan Ramirez have different stories and backgrounds. Martinez is a 34-year-old pastry chef and mother, Gonzales a 22-year-old student and banker coach, and Ramirez is a 34-year-old father of two newly adopted boys who also works as a senior technical trainer.

Their lives, however, have one common thread: They were all living an unhealthy lifestyle. That's about to change.

Martinez, Gonzales and Ramirez are three of the 25 contestants in H-E-B's 2013 Slim Down Showdown Challenge.

As part of the 12-week challenge, contestants work with health experts to develop fitness and meal plans as they work toward not only their personal goals, but the possibility of winning a $10,000 grand prize. Conexión will follow these three contestants on their weight-loss journey.

Over the next 12 weeks, we'll take a closer look at their stories as well as their challenges and successes during the competition. You can also keep up with all 25 contestants, who hail from throughout Texas, through their blogs at heb.com/healthy.